Assigjtoe of one half to edwaed



(No Model.)

J. SHAPFER.

HARNESS SADDLE PAD.

- Patented 001:. 19, I886.

N PETERS, Photo-Ulhcgnphur. Washmgkm. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

JOSEPH SHAFFER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO EDWARD F. COOPER, OF SAME PLACE.

HARNESS-SADDLE PAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,212, dated October 19, 1886.

Application filed May 21, 1886. Serial No. 202,857. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Josnrrr Srmrrnn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddle-Pads for Harness, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this 13 specification.

In harness-pads asordinarily constructed the chief objection consists in the fact that they adhere closely to the skin of the animal, and frequently cause sores or galling by the exclusion of the air and the retention of the sweat or moisture, and this retention of the moisture, while producing or increasing the galling, serves also to injure the pad by causing its filling to pack or harden, and when dried causing the inner lining of the pad to wrinkle or become uneven, thereby rendering it more objectionable on that account.

The object of my invention is to remedy these objections, and to improve the construc- 2 5 tion of the pad, as well as its means of attachment to the saddle.

The novelty will be herein set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is 0 a perspective view of my improved saddlepad. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same spread open. Fig. 3 is a sectional clevation in the line a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a side elevation of so much of the saddle and 5 pad as is necessary to show the method of securing them at the top.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.

The outer side, A, of my improved pad is composed of two flaps, with the central portion at the ridge cut out, so as to leave end pieces, a a, at the front and back. The inner surface, I) Z), of the pad is preferably of leather, though other material might be used, which has been pressed in a die or mold to form pockets extending transversely across the pad. These portions are then stitched to pieces 0 c, of cloth or leather, corresponding in size and shape with the outer portions, A, of the pad.

Before stitching across one of the ends of the pockets they are filled with flaxseed, the advantages of the use of which will be presently explained. If desired, the parts 0 0 may be omitted, and the under portions, 1) b, may be stitched directly to the outer portion, A. A piece of cloth or elastic webbing, B, is made to fill the cut-out portion at the ridge, whereupon the parts are fitted together, and are secured around the edges by a binding, (1, and rows of stitching.

Perforated attaching-pieces E and F are stitched to the portions a, as shown, and serve as means for securing the pad to the saddle at its top in the following manner: The checkrein hook G is inserted through the perforation in the piece E, and the crupper-strap ring or loop H is inserted through the slot or perforation in the piece F.

I I are the usual attaching-straps, secured to the lower ends of the upper surface of the pad.

The advantages of this construction may be described as follows: By the use of the seedfillcd pockets, which form corrugations or cushions extending trzmsverscly across the pad 7 5 and in contact with the animal, the contactsurface is "crymuch reduced and a free circulation of air permitted. Furthermore, by the use of fiaxseed as a stuffing, when the pad becomes moist the contents of the pockets do not become packed and solidified, as when other stuffing material is used, and the contactsurfacc is preserved soft and flexible.

It will be observed that the strip of webbing B is somewhat narrower than the length of the connecting-pieces a a, so that when it is stitched to the two sides of the pad it serves to arch up the pieces a a. and hold them entirely out of contact with the horses back, and causing the pad to fit snugly to the under side of the saddle. By the use of the elastic webbing, or, if preferred, any other soft textile material, galling or chafing over the spine of the animal is prevented.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claiml. A harness-pad having its central portion at the ridge cut away, leaving the two sides connected by end portions, and having said cut-away portion filled in with a flexible material,which connects the two'sides and serves to prevent galling, substantially as described.

2. An elastic harness pad having its central portion at the ridge cut away, leaving the two sides connected by end portions, and having said cut-away portion filled in with elastic webbing, which connects the two sides and serves to prevent galling, and enables the pad to be adjusted to saddles of different shapes I and sizes, substantially as described.

3. A harness-saddle pad provided on its under side with transverse pockets filled with flaxseed to form cushions, substantially as de- 1 5 scribed, whereby the contactsu rface is reduced and kept soft and flexible.

R0121. M. IRVIN, ALVIN W. KUMLER. 

